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Dec. 4,1923.

' C. E. LUMAX CALL INDICATING SYSTEM Filed April 19, 1920 2 She ts-$het I l InuEn m" E Zap/51155 ,ELUIZ'lE/X Dec. 4, 1923. 1 1,476,366

1 c. E. LOMIAX CALL INDIGATING SYSTEM F l April 19, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TENS UNITS Harem/35 E- Lmmax wmiwtfl 111 f Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

onannncn n. LoMaX, or entrance, ILLIIIoIs, .assrenon re auroiaarrc nLncrnIc COM? PANY, or crIIcac-o, IIIIIvoIs, a conronarron or ILLIN'oIs.

GALL-INDIOATING SYSTEM.

Application filed April 19, 192 9.

Be it known that I, {JLARENCE IS. LOMAX, citizen of the United States of America. and a rsident of Chicago Cook County, and. State olt Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Call-Indicating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to a call indicating system in which means is pro vided for indicating to calling subscriber whether or not he is connected with the called subscriber with whom he desires connection and relates more specifically to a series of lamp si nals arranged before each calling subscriber in tens and units groups in such a manner as to set up before the calling subscriber an indication oil. the number of the called station with which he is actually connected in order that he may check up and see that his call was properly completed to the subscriber desired.

It will be understood that my invention as explained above may be applied to any desired type of automatic telephone system and is not confined to use with the system herein shown.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings I have illustrated my invention in connection with a so called telautographic system as the use of my invention in such a system would be of exceptional value due to the fact that no conversation is carried on be tween calling and called parties. The telautograph system as now used is a device for communicating from one stat-ion to the other by writing and is used in banks and other large concerns to transmit inquires or orders from one department to another. I believe that this is the first time an automatic connector switch and calling device have been used to complete connections between telautograph lines. I

In the drawings Ihave shown in Fig. l a telautograph station A only diagrammatically as having a receiving device EEG. and a transmitting device TR. The device REC. consists of a roll or tape with means for reproducing thereon the message sent in. The device TR. consists of an GlGClZI'On16 chanical pencil and a pad for writing out the message to be forwarded to the receiving or called station. The telautograph device is not a part of my invention. At li-l (Fig. 1) is shown an automatic connector switch oi.

Serial No. 374,887.

the type, mechanically, such as is shown in the patent to Keith Erickson and Erickson #815176 granted April 21, 1905. Associated with the stationA is a calling device CD and a key ii, the calling device being included in a call line to the switch H "for operating the same and the Key II also included in said call line for opening and closing said line before and after a call.

In Fig. 2 I have shown at B, one of the called stations, similar in all respects to sta tion A, which is accessible to the connector switches H oi? all other lines or stations.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a diagrammatic layout of the connections from 2 levels of a switch H with the connections to the lamp signals.

Also in 1 I have shown two series of lamps arranged in horizontal strips and one set oi? which would be preferably mounted above the receiving device of each station. These lamps are connected to certain contacts accessible to the wipers of the switch lit and one lamp in each set is lighted whenever the switch stands in connection with a called station.

I willnow explain in detail the method of operation of the system when a station such as A desires to communicate with a station such as B (Fig. Whenthe party at substation A desires to call he first throws the call key K to close the line 3 from the calling device CD to the line relay l of the individual connector switch H. Relay l energizes over this circuit and closes acircuit for slow relay 5 to energize the same, relay 5 connects ground through spring 6 and front contact to the private normal con ductor 7 to prevent any other station from connecting with the calling line, opens the circuit of relay 8, opens a point in the circuit of release magnet 9 at springs 10 and 11, and prepares a circuit for vertical magnet-13 and slow relay l4lat springs 10 and 12.

Now the calling subscriber will operate the calling device CD in accordance with the two digits of the called number which in this case is assumed to be #111 When the impulse or impulses for the first digit operate relay l, said relay in turn transmits a corresponding number of impulses through relay 14 and magnet 13 to step the wipers to that level in which the terminals 01 the desired line are located. Relay 14- remains energized during the impulses of this digit to open the springs 15 and hold. a new cir cuit closed for itself and magnet13 through springs 16 and 17 after the off normal springs18haye opened and springs 19 have closed ontheffirst vertical step.

After the wipers reach the first level and the wiper 20 is therefore in engagement with the first vertical contact 21 then relay 14 will fall back to close springs 15 and to close springs 16 and 22 to prepare a new circuit to the rotarymagnet 23 and relay 24. The closure of s rings connects ground to wiper an thence through contact. 21 to the tens lamp.#1 to light the same and a 161 branch of this circuit passes through relay 2,5 to battery. Relay 25 energizes, closes a lockingcircuit i'or itself at springs 26 and also connects the ground from springs 39 and 6 of relay 5 through said springs 26 to 93 the lighted-lamp, thereby holdingsaid lamp lighted independent of wipe-r 20zand contact 21. It will-be understood that this wiper 20 passes over contacts 21, etc, as the switch is moved vertically andthen moves away from 251 these contacts as the switch is moved in a rotary direction;

Now as the calling device is operatedfor the next series ofirn-pulses relay 4 again vibratesin response thereto to, in this case, re-

peat a like number of impulses to the rotary magnet 23-and slovrl'el'aly 24- in multiple. The rotary magnet therefore operates to step the'wi'pers of the switch-ont the first set of contacts in the first-level, to which contacts the station B is connected. Should the called line be busy inanother call then a ground would present on the private conductorthereof either from the switch of this line orfrom the wiper of some other switch resting onthc' multiple contacts in said other switch.

Before relay 24 has time to fall back therefore a circuit would be completed from ground :on conductor 27, through wiper 28,

springs 29and30, springs 31, and relay 32 to battery.

Relay .32 energizes to'open the circuit of the rotary magnet a t springs 33, and preparesa locking circuit through springs 34- and' 35' for itself after relay 24 falls back.

Inthis case therefore the calling party will" beunaable' to communicate with the called man and will'operate key K to open the call circuit 3,- thus allowing the relay 4 to fall back and inturnrelay 5 falls back to release the switch and restore all relays of theswitch H to normal, thereby extinguishing the tens lam 'p.

If however, the called station is idle then relay 32 will notwenergize and when relay 24'falls' back" after the se-conddigit a circuitwill b'e completed for-the switching relay 38 asfollows: From ground through spring 6 of-='relay- 5, spring 39, springs 34 and 40, i lower winding-ot-relay 38, springs 41 and 29, I wiper 28,. conductor 27, through the springs of the called partys connector switch correspondinuto springs (i and 42 of the switch H, an through the relay of said switch corresponding to relay 8 of switch H. This relay 8 opens the calling circuit of thecallod line to prevent the called mans switch from being operated, and re lay 38 energiaes to open the springs 43 and 31 and closes a locking circuit through its own upper winding from ground through springs 6 and; 3S), springs 44 and 45 and upper winding of relay 38 to battery. The closure. of springs 44 and 45 also closes a circuit for the relay 46 to switch the telauto graph lines 4750 inclusive through to the conductors 01" the called station, and removes a short circuit from the resistance 51 at springs 52 to cut down the current flowing in relay 4. A. branch of this latter circuit may also be traced ii'rom ground through springs 6 and 39, and springs 44 and 45, through wiper 36 and its engaged contact 37 to lamp #1 of the row of units lamps. The closure of springs 44 and 53 also places ground direct 011 the wiper 28 to make the called line busy to other calls.

The calling party will now see the lamps #1 of the units and tens rows lighted and will know that his connection has been completed to the #11 station and he will proceed to write his message on the telautograph sender in the usual manner and receive a written answer on his receiving de vice Ree.

hen the call is finished the party at sta tion A will operate the key K to open the call circuit 3, thus allowing relay 4 to fall back and in turn relay 5 falls bar-k to release the switch and restore all relays of the switch. H to normal thereby extinguishing the lamps of the tons and units.

It will be understood that this switch H may be used to extend any number of conductors such as 4750 inclusive and that the four wires shown are only alternative as the telautograph may be in some cases operated over only 2 conductors and in other cases may require more than 4.

It will be understood that I have shown only a portion of the banks of the connector I-l'in Fig. 1. These contacts being preferably arranged in double banks of 200 contacts each, that is the wipers have ten steps up and ten rotary. The wipers 28 and 36 being in one pair and operating over one set of banks having double contacts, of which 37 and 54 being the first set. Also each pair of-line wipersterminatingconductors 47 and 48-and 47 and 50 have access to a separate double back of 200 contacts.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a diagrammatic rep resentation of the wiring of the vertical contacts and also the multipling of the special private contacts accessible to wiper 36. It will lUu be understood that the line banks of the 100 connectors in the system will all be multipled so that each has acess to all the lines of the system. The contacts of each bank are arranged as usual in ten horizontal rows of two each, there being one vertical contact for each row. In Fig. 3 I have shown 2 rows or levels of the special bank contacts and have shown how they are multipled vertically that is all the first contacts in each row such as 54 and 54! are multipled together and are connected to the #1 units lamp while all the second contacts have a similar multiple and connect with the second units amp, etc.

From the above description it will be understood that I have devised a very eilicient method of extending a telautographic line to any one oi a plurality of other stations by means of an automatic switch and have also provided a very efficient call indicating or registering system whereby a call initiatingparty may be sure that he is in connection with the desired called station independent of any listening device.

Having fully described and ascertained the features and aspects of my invention what I consider to be new and desire to have pro tected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a telatogr-aph system, a plurality of stations each having means for sending and receiving written messages, a calling device for each station, an automatic switch controlled by the calling device of a calling station to extend a connection to a called station and indicating means controlled by the operation of said switch for indicating to. the calling station to what station he is in connection with.

2. In a telautograph system an automatic switch, lines accessible to said switch divided into decimal groups, means controllable from one of said lines for operating said switch to connect with any other of said lines, and a series of tens and units lamps, one tens lamp for each decimal group and one units lamp for each line in a group, one lamp in each series being lighted when connection is made with any line to indicate to the calling line the number of the called line.

3. In a telautograph system, stations, an automatic switch for connecting one station to another, said switch having a step by step vertical and rotary movement over terminals of lines, a series of. lamps one for each vertical step and another series one for each rotary step, and means for lighting one lamp in each series when the switch is connected to any called line.

4. In a telautograph system, stations, an automatic switch for connecting one station to another, said switch having a step by step vertical and rotary movement over terminals of lines, a series of lamps one for each vertical step and another series one for each rotary step, means for lighting one lamp in each series when the switch is connected to any called line, and means for maintaining both lamps lighted until the connection is released.

5. A system'for extending one telautograph line into connection with another comprising a plurality oi automatic progressively movable switches, a calling device at each station for controlling one of said switche and means controlled by the operation of said switch for setting up before the calling subscriber the number of the line with which he is connected after the switch is operated by the calling device to extend such connection.

6. In a telautograph system, an automatic switch for extending connections from one line to another, wipers for said switch for extending connections, a vertical wiper for said switch having contacts accessible thereto, one for each level, a rotary wiper having contacts accessible to it, one for each rotary step of the switch, means for operating said switch vertically in response to one digit, and rotary in response to another, a series of lamps one for each vertical and one for each rotary contact, one lamp in each series lighted by means of said wipers and maintained lighted until the switch is released.

7. In a telautograph system, a station, a telautographic receiver and transmitter therefor, an automatic switch accessible to the line of said station and a calling device at the station for controlling said switch, a set of signals at said station arranged in series, one series for each digit and means controlled through the medium of said switch for operating one signal in each series to indicate to the calling station the number of the line to which connection has been extended.

8. In a telautograph system, an automatic switch for extending connections from one station to another, a bank of contacts accessible to said switch and a plurality of wipers cooperating therewith, the contacts being arranged in rows or levels, the contacts in all levels of one set being multipled vertically and connected to a series of lamps, one for each rotary step of the wipers, and another set of contacts one for each row of contacts connected to another series of lamps, where by when a switch is operated the lamps lighted indicate the position of the wipers.

9. In a switching system for telautograph lines, an automatic step by step switch individual to a calling station and operable for connecting said station with any one of a plurality 01 other stations, a manually operable calling mechanism for transmitting impulses to said switch in accordance with the number of a desired called station, and

spearate indicating means for enabling a plurality of other stations, a manually operable calling mechanism for transmitting impulses to said switch 1n accordance with i the number of a desired called station, and

V toenable the calling party to check the nu1n- V a-visual indicator associated with said SVifCll 1 for indicating the number or the station to which therconnection is extended in order oer connected with against the number called.

11. In a switching system for tel-autograph lines, an automatic switch individual to a calling station, wipers for said switch operable to extend a connection to any one of plurality of other stations, a manually operable calling device for transmitting impulses to said-switch inaccordance with thenumber of adesired called station, said switch being responsive thereto to advance 1 wipers into connection with the desired station, and avisual indicator controlled by the switch for indicating to the calling part the exact position of the switch wipers, to enable such calling party to check the number of the station connected with against the number of-the station called.

12. In a switching system for telautograph lines, an automatic switch individual to a calling station, wipers for said switch operable to extend a connection to any one of a plurality of other. stations, a manually operable calling diyice for transmitting inipulsesto said switch in accordance with the number of a desired called station, said switch being responsive thereto to advance its wipers into connection with the desired station, and a series otindicating lamps selectivelycontrolled by the switch for indicating to the calling party the exact position of the switch wipers,-to enable such calling party to check the number of the station connected with against the number of the station called.

Signed by me at Chicago Cook County, Illinois, this 15th day of April, 1920.-

CLAR'ENCE E. LOMAX. 

